Class of 2022: Meet the winners of the IMI Skills Competitions

The IMI Skills Competitions always showcase the amazing talent coming through the ranks, and this year was no different. The winners from the 2022 finals show just how much talent we have coming into the industry

The IMI Skills Competitions with World Skills UK plays a vital role in identifying the most capable young apprentices working in the automotive sector. Each year the very best talent coming through the ranks put their skills to the test to find out who’s at the top of their game.

Run annually, the competitions help raise standards, esteem and levels of expertise in technical skills across four streams: Automotive Technology, Automotive Body Repair, Automotive Refinishing And Heavy Vehicle Technology.

This year, the event was held at Cardiff and Vale College, bringing together an amazing group of 23 hard-working automotive apprentices who beat over 500 others to make it through to the finals before taking on six practical tasks to decide the overall winner.

And there are some truly incredible and inspirational stories from everyone who took part, highlighting just how open the automotive sector is.

So, without further ado the results are…

Heavy Vehicle

Winners

Gold: George Hinkley – Scania – Remit

Silver: Max Winter – Adams Moring – Skillnet (DAF)

Bronze: Aleksander Zielechowski –PCL West Thurrock – Remit

Runners up

Joe Chapman – Skillnet – Ford And Slater (DAF)

Nicholas Garrett – Go North East – Gateshead College

Daniel Noddle – Northside Tuck and Van

Refinishing

Winners

Gold: Adam Neville – Lookers, Charles Hurst, Belfast – Riverpark

Silver: Bethany Creaser – Remit – FMG RS

Bronze: Dominic Everington – EMTEC – Steer Group

Runners up

Liam Shipp – Thatcham – FMG RS

Sion Lewis – IRD (Whitland)

Jordan Zatac – IRG Bridegend – Coleg Gwent

Light Vehicle Technology

Winners

Gold: Ewan Griggor – AM Philip Truck Tech – Skillnet

Silver: Robert Griffin – Cecil & Lerter Volvo – Calex UK Ltd Volvo

Bronze: Charlie Taff-Lavill – Volkscraft – South Devon College

Runners up

Jessica Brakenbury – Rainbow Auto Services

Coll Izatt – Fife College – Fife Auto Tech Ltd

Robert Aldous – Sytner MB Bristol – Weston College

Body Repair

Winners

Gold: Leuan Morris-Brown – Cardiff and Vale College

Silver: David McKeown – JMAR Accident Repair – Riverpark

Bronze: Ben Priestley – Bordersdown Body shop – Riverpark

Runners up

Omer Waheed – Davis Motor Company – Cardiff and Vale College

Saul Dale – Blackpool and the Fylde College

And a special mention goes to Liam Shipp in Refinishing who won the Medallion of Excellence for scoring higher than the average overall competition score

Think you’ve got what it takes? Find out how you could be a part of the IMI Skills Competitions in 2023, head to: www.theimi.org.uk/landing/imi-skills-competitions/